Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

Know Before You Go

First Sunday of Advent: Prepare the Way!

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In the Know Before You Go video, Fr. Gregory Heille OP guides us through the cycle of the liturgical year, highlighting Advent as a joyful season of hopeful anticipation for the fulfillment of God's reign. He unpacks the readings: the responsorial psalm inviting us to "go rejoicing into the house of the Lord," Isaiah's prophecy of nations beating "swords into plowshares," Matthew's powerful call to "be prepared" for the unexpected coming of the Son of Humanity, and Paul's exhortation in Romans to "awake from sleep" and "put on the Lord Jesus Christ." He also offers a glimpse into the themes and readings for the subsequent Sundays of Advent, building towards the glorious celebration of the Incarnation.
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**Chapters:**
0:00 Welcome & Introduction (Gregory Heille, Aquinas Institute)
0:00:11 First Sunday of Advent Readings (November 30th)
0:00:26 Overview of the Catholic Liturgical Year
0:01:07 Advent: A Season of Expectation, Longing, Hope, and Joy
0:01:29 Thematic Progression of Advent: Reign of God, John the Baptist, Mary
0:01:56 First Sunday's Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 127): "Let us go rejoicing"
0:02:28 First Reading (Isaiah 2): Prophecy of the Lord's Mountain and Universal Peace
0:03:29 Gospel Cycle: Year A (Matthew)
0:04:01 Gospel Reading (Matthew 24): Be Prepared, Stay Awake
0:04:39 Advent Theme: Intentional Discipleship and Preparation
0:05:01 Second Reading (Romans 13): "Awake from Sleep," "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ"
0:05:32 Summary of First Sunday Readings: Call to Unity, Peace, and Discipleship
0:06:12 Prayer: Waking Up to Faith and Being Peacemakers
0:06:34 Preview of Second Sunday of Advent (Justice and Repentance)
0:07:15 Preview of Third Sunday of Advent (Lord, Come and Save Us)
0:08:35 Preview of Fourth Sunday of Advent (Joyful Anticipation: Emmanuel)
0:09:20 The Incarnation: God with Us, Emmanuel
0:09:41 Conclusion: Longing for Fulfillment, Praying for Peace, Putting Faith into Action

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Know Before You Go is a ministry of the provincial office to help people prepare to hear the readings and preaching of the approaching Sunday's Mass. We welcome any feedback you have at know@opcentral.org . You can see them all below, or you can see other preaching by a particular person by clicking on his name.

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